Anti Spambot Code Generator

[LVZ]

There are other versions out there on the net, however, I just finished a webpage to generate javascript code to hide email addresses and phone numbers on web pages from the spambots. It is not meant to stop hackers (ok, maybe lazy ones) but it will enhance web privacy. It is also easy to use.

Generator: http://vegas215.com/antispam.html

Test Page: http://vegas215.com/antispamtest.html

[sdjl]

It's a nice idea, but you're assuming spam bots aren't clever.
It would only take a spam bot to work out you're using character representations (i forget the name for this type of encryption) and then cycle through to get the correct characters.

As you say though, it will stop the lazy or very basic bots

David

[Frank Hagan]

I use a similar system to "encrypt" my email address on my web sites. Even the very simple encryption that changes the letters into the HTML representations like this works:

<a href = "mailto:%66%73%68%61%67%61%6E%40%65%76%31%2E%6E%65%74">email me</a>

I tested with 7 different email addresses, and the amount of spam I got by putting a new email address unencrypted at the footer of a web page grew exponentially from about the 4th day. But even the simple encryption eliminated it, and I didn't get a single spam message from any of the encrypted email addresses. And this method doesn't require the user to have Java enabled.

[LVZ]

And this method doesn't require the user to have Java enabled.

I assume you mean Javascript. Java would be far too slow.

THe %xx method will work against most bots. Javascript coding will work against more. Either way, it's just a good idea to have a relatively easy way to prevent avoidable spamming.

Javascript is used so frequently by web sites, that anyone not turning it on would be functionally disadvantaged on the net these days.

[Frank Hagan]

Yeah, I meant Javascript.

Does Firefox have Javascript support on or off by default? I seem to remember the Mozilla browsers having it off by default (they are growing, at about 6 or 7% of the browsers visiting my site, with the majority IE users still at about 86%).

I don't think any of the spam bots are smart. The simpliest obfuscation seems to work, so that's what I use. When that no longer works, I'll move to the next level.

I wish we would declare email addresses property of the ISP, with only the ISP being able to buy and sell their use ... then, at least, the ISP has recourse against people stealing their property and reselling it (does anyone really think there's that much money in penis enlargement? I don't think so ... the people making the money from spam are selling the "bulletproof" accounts on offshore servers and selling databases of email addresses).

[LVZ]

Firefox 1.0 does have javascript turned on by default. It is my primary browser. I use it now more than 90% of the time.

BTW, I don't know why the Firefox did not include the rather obvious IE function "print" in the right-click box. I also don't like that you can't edit when you VIEW SOURCE with Firefox. For those reasons and for Windows Updates I need Microsoft's IE6.

[J-G]

Obfuscation Works 4 Me

1. If you have the bandwidth / diskspace, download "full" Mozilla. It contains a nice basic webpage editor, "Composer." It's available from "File" then "Edit Page." One way to quickly edit a page for one customer when "away from the office."

2. e-mail address obfiscation works well for me. Example snippet of code:

<script language="JavaScript">

<!--
document.write("<a hre");
document.write("f=mai");
document.write("lto:");
document.write("webmaster");
document.write("@");
document.write("MyDathornSite.");
document.write("com>");
document.write("<b>Click here </b>");
document.write("</a>");
// --></script>to
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